Unified Board to Plan for Suburban Districts?

Memphis, Tn - The Transition Planning Commission is working towards a single county-wide Unified School System.

But, Commissioner and former Shelby County Board President David Pickler thinks the Board should be planning for the possibility of municipal school districts.

David Pickler was against the schools consolidating from the very beginning, but says he is not jumping from the unified school district band wagon.

He says he just wants to plan and be prepared.

Right now the transition planning committee is working on a plan for a county wide school system. But, Pickler points out suburban cities are on their way to separating from the giant system to create smaller municipal school districts.

Pickler says there should be a plan for the municipal districts, a plan for the possibility of the state taking over schools, and a plan for the introduction of more charter schools.

"My focus is still on putting together the structure that can be the most attractive to all the residents of Memphis and Shelby County," said Pickler. "If in fact the suburban communities are moving in a different direction, we need to think differently as well and attempt to have a plan that might address some of their issues and concerns."

Pickler has also suggested inviting the consultants that created the feasibility plan for the suburbs to a Transition Planning Commission meeting.